Doubt cast on flu treatment for children
August 11, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
A scientific review published yesterday questions the merits of the broad use of antiviral drugs in children suffering from influenza. The paper, published in the journal BMJ, analyzed studies looking at the drugs' efficacy in children and suggested they are unlikely to prevent complications in those who have seasonal flu.
The authors of the review acknowledged it is unclear whether the findings hold true for the treatment or prevention of infection with the H1N1 pandemic virus, but the limited impact of the drugs on seasonal flu suggests a more conservative approach to pandemic use.
The analysis reviewed studies on the use of these drugs in children, finding only seven. Four related to treatment and three looked at their use to prevent infection.
The accumulated evidence suggests – as with adults – the drugs cut the length of a bout of flu by between a half-day and 1.5 days.
Whether use of the drugs lowered the risk of hospitalization or death was not analyzed.
Toronto Star
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